{"id":7230,"date":"2020-04-04T10:30:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-04T10:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preferhome.com\/managing-diet-and-nutrition-while-living-with-heart-failure\/"},"modified":"2020-04-04T10:30:34","modified_gmt":"2020-04-04T10:30:34","slug":"managing-diet-and-nutrition-while-living-with-heart-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preferhome.com\/locations\/blog\/managing-diet-and-nutrition-while-living-with-heart-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Diet and Nutrition While Living with Heart Failure"},"content":{"rendered":"

For over 5 million Americans, living with heart failure is a daily reality that requires significant attention to one\u2019s medications, daily weight, and nutrition.\u00a0 Managing one\u2019s diet<\/a> is particularly important as this can highly impact both short term and long term heart health. Let\u2019s take a closer look at how nutrition relates to heart failure, then explore some tips for better eating for those affected by this disease.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Heart Failure and Why is Nutrition so Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n

On a simple level, heart failure<\/a> is when the heart fails to pump blood as it normally should.\u00a0 There are different subtypes of heart failure and many causes, but a poorly functioning \u2018pump\u2019 is the basic problem.\u00a0 When this happens, there can be problems with other organs, for example, the kidneys, lungs, and liver. This occurs either because the heart cannot pump blood to these organs as effectively or because blood cannot flow easily through the heart but rather builds up pressure in the veins that return blood to the heart. In the latter case, this may cause shortness of breath (when this occurs in the lungs), affect liver function (when this occurs in the liver), or lead to leg swelling.\u00a0 Heart function is influenced by how much fluid is in the cardiovascular system. As such, your physician will often prescribe medications to optimize your fluid status in order to help your heart function most effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the short term, the importance of diet and nutrition centers on one\u2019s sodium intake.\u00a0 When an individual consumes too much sodium, this can lead to fluid retention and overwhelm the heart pump, thereby leading to acute heart failure decompensation that may require admission to the hospital.\u00a0 In the long term, the main focus of nutrition is on a heart-healthy diet that promotes healthy cholesterol levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nutrition Tips with Heart Failure<\/b><\/h2>\n
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  1. Know your Numbers<\/strong>. It is important for most individuals with heart failure to keep track of sodium intake, fluid intake, and daily weight. Choose the method that works best for you.\u00a0 While pen and paper is certainly an option, be sure to check out the app store on your smart phone for easy-to-use digital trackers.\u00a0<\/span>\n